The Star Wars Page #18

Before the general can answer, the acute scream of the spaceport alarm

reverberates through the corridors. The general, followed by his two young

captains, charge toward the heavily guarded military passageway. Han, with

the princess and two robots, follow a safe distance behind. A guard sees them

coming, and orders them to stop. Starkiller and the general fire their

laserpistols at the passageway entrance and the troops disappear in a huge

explosion.

The group jumps over the dead guards and smoking rubble, then runs through a

series of hallways leading to a starship. They stop just short of an

intersection leading to a boarding ramp. Starkiller peeks around a corner at

two guards standing in front of the boarding ramp.

STARKILLER:

Cutters! We'll have to draw them out...A blast might alert the crew.

GENERAL:

Artwo! Come here.

The little robot waddles over to the old Jedi.

GENERAL (con't)

Move to that intersection and sound the alarm.

The mechanical dwarf dutifully marches into the intersection and lets out a

high, electronic scream. The guards shut off the deadly laser "cutters," and

cautiously approach the wailing robot.

GUARD:

What is it? What's wrong?

With incredible speed, both guards are dropped by a few precision blows from

the two young captains. They immediately drag the unconscious guards into the

starship.

GENERAL:

Starkiller! Whitsun! Stand guard. I'll signal at take-off minus

thirty...And reverse that cutter!

102. INTERIOR - IMPERIAL STARSHIP - AQUILAE

Han and the general, followed by Leia and the robots, enter the Imperial

starship. They rush through several narrow hallways leading to the bridge.

Two crew members leaving a control station, stumble into the group and are

quickly dispatched by Han. The princess waits with the robots, as the general

and Han enter the bridge. The two pilots and navigator are taken by surprise

and promptly are subdued. Han switches on the intercom and listens.

HAN:

How are we going to get them to open the silo cover?

GENERAL:

Send Threepio in here. Dispose of any crewmen left on board.

103. BOARDING RAMP - SPACEPORT - AQUILAE

Starkiller and Whitsun now wear the uniform of the Imperial guard. Whitsun

has removed a plate from the "cutter" machinism and is crossing a few wires.

He replaces the "cutter" plate just as a squad of stormtroopers rushes toward

the door. An officer salutes them.

OFFICER:

Have you seen them?

STARKILLER:

No, Sir.

OFFICER:

They're in this section somewhere. I'm doubling all the guards. Stay alert.

Two guards take up positions just outside the "cutter" areas, and the squad

moves on to another starship. Starkiller gives his partner a philosophical

look.

104. INTERIOR - IMPERIAL STARSHIP - AQUILAE

The gleaming chrome Threepio sits in the pilot's seat, talking on the intercom

to a controller. He breaks off his continual drone of take-off instructions

to the controller and turns to the general, shaking his head.

THREEPIO:

They won't buy it. I think they're getting suspicious.

Han enters.

HAN:

The crew is taken care of.

GENERAL:

Well, they're not going to open the silo cover, so I'm afraid we'll have to

take it with us.

HAN:

We're going to sustain considerable damage if we blast off through that cover.

GENERAL:

It's a thin shell. There is no choice. (to Threepio) Signal the boys.

105. BOARDING RAMPS - SPACEPORT - AQUILAE

Warning lights flash and the main hatch to the starfighter slowly begins to

close. The two Imperial stormtroopers yell at Starkiller and Whitsun.

STORMTROOPER:

Watch it! Don't fire into those cutters! (to Starkiller) Shut down the

cutters!

The two captains pretend to be confused, and not understand. At the last

minute, they leap aboard the starship. The hatch slides closed, and the

boarding ramp drops away. Several more guards arrive, and give the troopers a

special card, which turns the small cutter warning lights from red to green.

The guards rush onto the boarding ramp and are wiped out by the reversed

"cutters."

106. INTERIOR - STARSHIPS - AQUILAE

Everyone straps himself into the lifepods. Threepio and the general troddle

forward, and the giant ship shudders as it starts to lift off the launch pad.

With tense expressions, everyone braces for the impact of the silo cover.

107. STARSHIP - SPACEPORT SILO - AQUILAE

The mighty starship thunders out of the silo, crashing through the cover

plate, sending shrapnel in all directions. The ship leaps toward the heavens.

108. BOARDING CAMPS - SPACEPORT - AQUILAE

Imperial flight crews rush to their starships. Pilots receive their

clearances, and several giant silo covers swing away, revealing deadly hunter-

destroyer spaceships.

109. INTERIOR - BRIDGE - STARSHIP - SPACE

Han and the general watch as five hunter-destroyers leave the spaceport at

Gordon.

GENERAL:

We suffered light damage to a deflector fin. It will take them quite a while

to catch up with us now. Tell the boys to get some rest.

110. AFT SECTION - STARSHIP - SPACE

Han retreats to the aft section of the ship, where the two captains are

checking out the two main lasercannons mounted in large rotating bubble

turrets.

HAN:

The old boy says you two should get some rest... You've got some time before

they catch up to us.

Han notices the packs containing the young princes.

HAN (con't)

Better store the boys in a lifepod. Secure them well.

He heads back toward the bridge, followed by Whitsun. Starkiller carries the

two micro-packs to a lifepod, and straps them in. He checks Biggs' energy

supply. It is low. Leia approaches him.

LEIA:

Couldn't we let them out now?

STARKILLER:

It's better this way. Things are going to get rough...

LEIA:

Will we make it? Is there any hope? Stay with me. [something deleted?]... I

love you.

Starkiller is slightly shocked at this outburst. The princess starts to cry

and clings to him for support.

STARKILLER:

No-one is going to die...so stop acting like a child, and start behaving like

a queen. What is this silly talk of love? You belong to the people of

Aquilae, and my job is to return you to them, nothing more. Now straighten up

and get into a lifepod.

She's deeply hurt by his callousness. She breaks away from him and runs down

a hallway into a lifepod. He is tired, and angry at the whole incident.

111. BRIDGE - STARSHIP - SPACE

Threepio guides the starship toward the Ophuchi system. The general watches

the computer readout estimate the position of the Imperial hunter destroyers.

THREEPIO:

Hostile craft will intercept at thirty plus.

GENERAL:

What's the nearest star System?

THREEPIO:

Yavin.

GENERAL:

Set a course... Maybe we can lose them among the Systems.

112. AFT SECTION - STARSHIP - SPACE

Starkiller rests in one of the lasercannon pod bays. He is thinking about

Leia. Slowly a smile creeps across his face. He makes a decision, jumps up,

and hurries down a hallway. He taps on the lifepod bulkhead, and Whitsun

opens the door. Starkiller is surprised.

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